FAQ

The WaterGuru SENSE 3 is a smart digital pool water tester installed on your pool skimmer that uses patented optical technology to measure your pool water chemistry daily. It tracks Free Chlorine (FC), pH, Total Alkalinity (TA), Cyanuric Acid (CYA), and Calcium Hardness (CH), and displays the results in the WaterGuru app with customized advice on how to correct any out-of-range values.

The SENSE 2 and 3 devices 2 measures Free Chlorine (FC), pH, Total Alkalinity (TA), Cyanuric Acid (CYA), and Calcium Hardness (CH).The SENSE 1, 2, and 3 also track pool water temperature and flow. The original SENSE 1 measured only Free Chlorine and pH.

The SENSE 1 measures Free Chlorine and pH only, and does not work in hot tubs or spas. The SENSE 2 and 3 measures Free Chlorine, pH, Total Alkalinity, Cyanuric Acid, and Calcium Hardness, and works in pools, hot tubs, spas, swim spas, endless pools, and infinity pools.  SENSE 3 is solar powered, has a USB C port for charging, and is fully sealed.

The SENSE 3 is the newest SENSE and has a solar panel on the top of the unit and does not come with a float ring. The SENSE 2 was launched on May 25, 2023, and ships with a Float Ring for use in hot tubs and above-ground pools. If your older unit did not come with a Float Ring, you have a SENSE 1.

The Free Chlorine and pH pads used in the SENSE1, 2, and 3 provide readings that are matched against the accuracy of the Taylor Test Kit K1515A, a widely respected reference kit. The TA and CH pads are currently unmodified from the test strip manufacturer, and the CYA pad is a hybrid. WaterGuru continues to improve the algorithms and the pads themselves for these additional parameters.

The SENSE is calibrated before every water measurement to account for the presence of the test pads and the unique conditions of the water in your skimmer at the moment of reading.

Test strips typically sample only water near the pool surface, which is not representative of the rest of the pool. The SENSE digital pool water tester sits in your skimmer where water is actively flowing, so it measures a much more comprehensive sample of your pool water.

Open the WaterGuru app and tap “Measure Now.” If you are within Bluetooth range of your SENSE, the measurement will take about 10 minutes to complete.

No. WaterGuru pool data is only available through the WaterGuru app on iOS and Android. There is no desktop or web dashboard.

SENSE 3 is solar powered. It uses approximately one hour of full sunlight per day. Without sunlight (shaded pools, covered spas, or indoor pools) the SENSE 3 will have power for approximately 5 months. There is a USB C port on the top of the unit that can be used to charge the device if necessary. WARNING: DO NOT OPERATE THE UNIT NEAR WATER WHILE CHARGING OR WITHOUT THE USB PLUG COVER.  TO DO SO WILL VOID THE WARRANTY. 

The SENSE 1 and 2 use C-size batteries that last approximately 6 months. Battery life will vary depending on the brand of batteries used.

WaterGuru recommends Energizer or Duracell C-size alkaline batteries, which have been tested extensively for long life and durability.

Battery strength in the app is updated after the SENSE completes its next daily water measurement. Once the next measurement runs, the correct strength will be displayed.

Refillable cassettes contain enough pads for 60 reads, which typically lasts about 2 months with standard daily testing. The C5 Cassette (FC, pH, TA, CYA, CH) is designed to last about 1 month of daily measurements. The C2 Cassette (FC and pH only) is designed to last about 2 months.

Store cassettes indoors, away from direct sunlight and hot or cold temperature extremes. Do not store them in a garage or pool cabana that experiences seasonal temperature swings. Cassettes must also remain wet—if they dry out or freeze, they will fail and produce inaccurate readings (such as a 0.0 Free Chlorine reading even when chlorine is present).

Unused cassettes have a storage life of approximately 1 year when stored correctly.

Place the SENSE on your skimmer while pairing. The WaterGuru app connects to the device via Bluetooth and walks you step-by-step through connecting the SENSE to your home Wi-Fi network.

You need active Wi-Fi at the pool area where the SENSE will be installed. The device works best with at least two bars of Wi-Fi signal at the install location.

The SENSE mounts on your skimmer with its sensor dangling down into the skimmer basket area, where water is actively flowing. If your pool does not have a compatible skimmer, or for above-ground pools and hot tubs, use the included Float Ring so the SENSE floats directly in the water.

Yes, the SENSE digital pool water tester works with hot tubs and spas. Rather than placing it in a skimmer, float the SENSE in the water using the optional Float Ring (included in S2). The earlier SENSE S1 does not support hot tubs or spas.

Yes. The SENSE works normally in salt water chlorine generator pools at salt levels up to 5,000 ppm. It does not directly measure salt concentration.

Yes. The SENSE is compatible with swim spas, endless pools, and infinity pools using the optional Float Ring (included in S2).

Yes. The WaterGuru app supports multiple pools. Use the drop-down menu in the app to switch between each monitored pool.

Yes. You can link the WaterGuru skill in the Alexa app to ask about your pool’s temperature and chemical readings. A prior outage, caused when Amazon unintentionally removed the WaterGuru skill, was resolved on October 3, 2024.

No, not anymore. Google removed support for conversational actions for Google Assistant and Google Home effective June 13, which retired the WaterGuru integration.

Yes. WaterGuru supports Siri voice commands on iPhone.

No. WaterGuru does not charge subscription fees. There are no ongoing software or service costs for using the device.

The WaterGuru SENSE comes with a 1-year warranty and a 30-day money-back guarantee. WaterGuru Treat products include a 90-day money-back guarantee and a 3-year replacement period from the date of purchase.

Contact WaterGuru Customer Support to request a return. For money-back guarantee refunds, your device will be verified as being within the eligible window, after which a prepaid UPS return label will be emailed to you. Chemicals are classified as hazardous materials and cannot be shipped back—dispose of them per local regulations and contact Customer Support to arrange a refund on non-chemical items.

No. The WaterGuru SENSE is not currently available for shipping outside of the United States.

If the FAQ does not answer your question, submit a form on the WaterGuru website or call 1-844-989-GURU (4878), Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. PST.